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- BLI announces a new Access Opportunity
- Barger Leadership Institute is moving!
- BLI Announces New Partnership with The London Idea
- Former Jet Blue CEO donates $10 million to Barger Leadership Institute
- BLI Hires a New Assistant Director
- BLI to Co-Host ‘Extreme by Design’ Film Screening, Discussion
- BLI awards Small Grant for Halfway Hijabi event
- BLI Launches New Capstone Experience
- BLI Launches New Fellows Program Structure
- Keep Calm and Lead On
- BLI Fellow Wins Wolverine Tank Pitch Contest
- BLI Congratulates Mya Haynes
- BLI Alumni Receive 2015-2016 Fulbright Honor
- The 2018 London Ideas Project is Announced
- Congrats to BLI partner Sandra Levitsky for being awarded the Golden Apple!
- Congrats to BLI Fellow and Peer Facilitator Elisabeth Benham
- Tales of Leadership: The Advanced Fellows Journey
- Welcome to the 2018 Capstone Cohort!
- BLI welcomes new director!
- BLI Across the Pond
- BLI Hosts Voting Guru Nancy Thomas
- Ram Mahalingam's award winning film to be screened at two film festivals.
- The Capstone Experience with the Migrant Education Initiative
- The Mindful Leader - Becoming an Engaged Leader
- A Weekend of Mindful Leadership
- Introducing the 2019 Capstone Teams
- The Peer Facilitator Experience
- Dinners with...
- BLI Students Start Small and Dream Big in Detroit
- From Freshman to Senior Year -- Four Years of Leadership Learning
- BLI Speaker Series: Food For Thought
- BLI Director, Ram Mahalingam featured in the Record
- Capstone Bootcamp 2019
- In a Distracted World, Solitude is Practice for Tomorrow’s Leaders
- A Conversation on Mindfulness, Bias and Racial Justice — a podcast with Ram Mahalingam
- The Mindful Leaders Retreat — Laying a Foundation
- Being a good leader is knowing when to practice gratitude
- Channeling Mindfulness
- Compassionate Leadership: Creating a Just, Inclusive and Mindful Society with Mirabai Bush
- Dinners With...
- Announcing Capstone 2020 Teams!
- Meet our 2020 Leadership Lab Teams!
- Leading Mindfully
- A Senior's Reflection on Peer Facilitating
- Expect Challenges
- Reflecting Back and Looking Forward
- From Leadership Lab, to Peer Facilitator, to Program Assistant
- Project Healthy Schools Global
- Learning to be an Effective Leader
- Leading Life with Dignity: A Challenge of Our Time
- Pause, Reflect, and Create
- What's Happening in the Lab?
- Capstone 3D Virtual Gallery
- Announcing the Break Away Podcast!
- BLI Advanced Fellow featured in M-LEAD's Leadership Lens Series!
- Two BLI Advanced Fellows Receive the Renowned MLK Spirit Award
- Stand Against Asian Violence
- BLI Hosts Alumni Panel
- Announcing the BLI's 2021 Capstone Cohort
- BLI Offers COVID-19 Hardship Grants
- ALA 175: Foundations in Leadership
- The Peer Facilitator Leadership Experience
- What's Happening in the Lab
- Capstone Boot Camp 2021
- Mindful Leader Reflection
- Learning to Lead with Compassion: A Mindful Leadership Retreat
- Okanagan Charter
- Foundations in Leadership, a Peer Facilitator Perspective
- Heart-Centered Leadership with Rebecca Irby
- Announcing the 2022 Leadership Certificate Cohort!
- Welcome the 2021-22 Mindful Leader Fellowship cohort!
- BLI Peace Leadership Retreat in Detroit
- BLI director awarded the Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award
- Seithur Sanitation Initiative receives the MLK Spirit Award
- The Michigan Difference Student Leadership Awards
- Feedback is Love
- Deepening the Foundations for Equity and Renewal
- Creating Leaders – Being a Peer Facilitator at the BLI
- M-LEAD Leadership Lens Feature: Kaitlyn Colyer
- M-LEAD Leadership Lens Feature: Mya Harris
- What's Happening in the Lab
- The Leadership Certificate at the University of Michigan: Cohort 1
- Color of Care Reflection
- Mindful Leader Retreat Recap
- Social Transformation, a Passionate Community of Scholars
- The Michigan Difference Student Leadership Awards
- Break Away Podcast
- BLI Weekend in Detroit
- Leadership Lens with Olivia O'Connell
- Leadership Lens with Becky Woolf
- Leadership Philosophy Reflection
- Senior Reflection, Renuka Murthi
- Dignity and Well-being in the Workplace: A French Perspective
- BLI – Year One
- Teaching Leadership, a Senior Reflection
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February 7th, 2022. It was a rather normal winter day, filled by my freshman year class schedule. I arrived early to my class, and filled the time by clicking aimlessly on my phone. That was until 11:19, when I received the best news one could in a Finite Mathematics class. “University of Michigan: Application Status Update.” My hands trembled with nerves typing my login information and my heart pounded opening the decision. However, my fear turned to joy when I saw maize and blue confetti fill my screen. I was admitted to my dream school and invited to join the Leaders and Best.
I spent the days following my acceptance researching the University of Michigan. I watched countless YouTube videos, read dozens of articles, and spent a bit too much money at the MDen. I wanted to expand my work beyond the classroom, as a holistic educational experience requires a range of academic and social opportunities.
During my search, I discovered the Barger Leadership Institute. Instantly I knew I wanted to be involved and applied right away. Leadership has been a core principle throughout my life, and I had never heard of a program with this caliber. I was amazed by the Barger Leadership Institute’s countless opportunities, and looked to get involved in any way I could. When I finally arrived in Ann Arbor, I went to Weiser Hall to see the BLI in action. During my visit, I found out that the Advanced Leadership Fellow (ALFs) team was hiring. I immediately applied, and was luckily accepted.
My year as an Advanced Leadership Fellow has been remarkable. During this time, I had the privilege to take part in ‘learn’ and ‘leap’ activities which aided my acclimation to the University of Michigan. I spent my fall semester as a 'Leadership Lab' student. In the lab, I received keen mentorship and advice from Leadership Teaching Fellows. As a transfer student, I added a diverse perspective to class discussions. In fact, my transfer experience inspired my eight-week passion project, where I worked with the Center for Campus Involvement to improve student organization outreach programs such as Maize Pages.
Throughout my year as an Advanced Leadership Fellow, I specialized within the events team. I, alongside my co-lead Drue, revitalized events programming. We did so by bringing a fresh perspective to the BLI’s leadership principles. Drue and I hosted biweekly Community Meetings, where students participate in hands-on activities, enjoy a meal, and, most importantly, build community. Our Community Meetings draw a diverse group of students from all parts of Michigan’s campus. As a result, the BLI has grown in its membership, and more students report a greater sense of belonging.
In addition to our specialized teams, the Advanced Leadership Fellows accomplished amazing team-wide goals. For example, we all aided in facilitating an Alumni Panel, where alums shared how their BLI experience aided them in the work force. This panel was planned by our Lead ALFs, Aaron and Meg, whose leadership shined throughout the semester. Three student staff members spearheaded our annual Detroit Retreat. The three-day-long retreat was an immersive experience, giving participants firsthand lessons about sustainability and the environment. These opportunities, among many others, allow ALFs to get experiential leadership experiences in a variety of ways.
I am immensely proud of the achievements the Barger Leadership Institute has attained over the past year. From transformation fellowships to student-led international retreats, it is easy to say that the BLI has done it all. However, I am most proud of the wonderful community we create every day at the Barger Leadership Institute. I am thankful that I enjoy going to work each day, and am prideful that our work is making a difference on our campus. My coworkers have become my best friends, my managers have become mentors, and Weiser Hall has become my home away from home. At the Barger Leadership Institute, I truly feel that I am making a campus-wide difference, which is an indescribable feeling.
I’ll always fondly remember receiving an acceptance letter to the University of Michigan. My admission allowed me to step foot on campus, but joining the Barger Leadership Institute is truly what got my foot through the door. I can confidently say joining the Barger Leadership was the best decision I made during my first year at Michigan, and I am incredibly excited about the years to come.
— Meaghan Ennis transferred this fall to the University of Michigan from Fordham University. She is a sophomore in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts interested in studying economics and plans to go to law school. Meaghan is part of the BLI Events team, and she is looking forward to creating her own leadership journey as she finds her place at the Michigan and hopes to fulfill Michigan's motto of 'Leaders and Best.'